Social Innovation Summit
2,3 October 2020
The Social Innovation Summit is a global gathering of dreamers and doers, coming together to imagine, build, and celebrate.
Theme: Radical Imagination
A TRULY ENGAGING VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE!
Main Stage
Panel Discussions
Discussions on the most pressing topics related to Palestine today. Engage with speakers on topics related to the social impact sector.
Expo
Virtual Booths
Get to know and connect with impactful NGOs and social enterprises working in Palestine in addition to book readings by Palestinian writers
Sessions
Workshops & Tours
Learn from thought leaders and take tangible tools back to your community. Leave empowered to take action in your community.
Networking Area
Networking Opportunities
Meet speakers and attendees from all over the world who are working to build a better future for Palestine
Schedule of Panel Discussions
Times listed are in Palestine Time (GMT +3)
Topics and scheduling are subject to change. For convenience, on-demand replays will be made available for all registered participants.
All panels are available in both languages, English and Arabic. Workshops are available in one language only.
Day 1 – Friday October 2, 2020
15:00 – 15:15 (GMT+3)
Opening Remarks
English/Arabic translation
Opening Remarks
Besan Abu Joudeh and Lama Amr from the BuildPalestine team welcome the audience to a thrilling start to two days of conversation, celebration, and imagination.
15:15 – 16:00 (GMT+3)
Opening Panel
English/Arabic translation
What is Radical Imagination?
Globally, traditional structures of control and power have drastically changed landscapes and built infrastructures of seemingly indefinite permanence. The current pandemic is shining a spotlight on these power structures, and on the continued oppression of many communities around the world.
It also presents an opportunity: for us to come together, reach beyond the limits of our imagination, and collectively work towards a radically different future. Building on the decades-long efforts of activists at home and across the globe, and in the context of internationalist solidarities, this panel seeks to use this very opportunity to explore that process of radical imagination in Palestine and beyond.
Panelists:
– Dr. Yara Hawari – Senior Palestine Policy Fellow @ Al-Shabaka
– Mariam Barghouti- Writer, researcher, political commentator
– Jehad AbuSalim – Scholar and policy analyst
Moderator:
16:05 – 16:50 (GMT+3)
Keynote
English/Arabic translation
Fireside Chat: A Conversation with Hashim Shawa
Hashim Shawa is Chairman of Bank of Palestine Group (a values-based banking group), a leader in the business community, Board Chair of Ibtikar Fund, a patron of Palestinian art, and an active philanthropist. The conversation will cover topics from geopolitics to economics and offer a glimpse into Hashim’s life as a Palestinian who returned from the diaspora and was committed to building a better future for Palestine.
This session will be moderated by Besan Abu-Joudeh, CEO and Co-founder of BuildPalestine.
17:00 – 17:45 (GMT+3)
Panel
English/Arabic translation
Building an ecosystem for social innovation: inspiration from global models
What is meant by social innovation? Where are the strongest ecosystems to support social innovators? And how have communities supported changemakers to translate dreams into impactful action?
This panel will feature global models of social innovation and discuss them in the context of Palestine. The goal is to identify opportunities to ignite the ecosystem in Palestine, while also embracing what makes the case of Palestine unique.
Panelists:
– Lana Abu Hijleh- WBG Country Director @ Global Communities
– Alberto Masetti-Zannini – Global Development Director @ Impact Hub
Moderator:
18:00 – 18:45 (GMT+3)
Panel
English/Arabic translation
Reclaiming our imagination for paths to social change: a conversation with other movements
This panel is a conversation amongst organizers who have helped to build social and political movements within their own constituencies, with the goal of understanding the experiences of other movements and identifying potential lessons for the Palestinian context.
The panel will consider the following questions: What is the radical imagination in each of their contexts? How did/are they organiz(ing) towards that vision? How do we mobilize large groups of people/various sectors in society towards the same goal? What lessons are they learning/can they share?
Panelists:
– Dilar Dirik- Researcher and Organizer @ Ceni Kurdish Women’s Office for Peace
– Reem Abbas- Sudanese Writer, Journalist, and Researcher
– Ahmad Nabil AbuZnaid – Executive Director of the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights
Moderator:
– Inès Abdel Razek- Advocacy Director @ The Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD)
19:00 – 19:45 (GMT+3)
Panel
English/Arabic translation
Overcoming donor-dependency: How can philanthropy tackle the root-cause?
Palestine has long been deemed a ‘donor-dependent economy’ with international aid arguably doing more harm than good in the post-Oslo era. Despite this, there continues to be an important role for aid and philanthropy in supporting and empowering impact-driven initiatives.
How can we redirect philanthropic giving so that it tackles the root cause? What is the vision of impact we have for our community, and what is the role of the Diaspora in achieving this?
Panelists:
– Yara Salem – Director General @ Taawon (Welfare Association)
– Moukhtar Kocache – Strategy & Partnerships @ Rawa: Creative Palestinian Communities Fund
– Nora Lester Murad – Writer, Activist and Educator
Moderator:
– Aziza Musa – Nonprofit Executive & BuildPalestine Board Member
20:00 – 20:45 (GMT+3)
Panel
English/Arabic translation
Impact investing in Palestine and the MENA region
The goal of this panel to understand impact investing and speak with seasoned professionals about how to better attract investment and raise funds. How competitive is Palestine today in the global impact investment scene? How can we overcome the bottlenecks? Can COVID-19 promote regional economic integration and collaboration regardless of the political differences?
Panelists:
– Nassim Nour – Executive Director @ Sharakat- Palestine Investment Fund
– Samar Ali – Director @ Lodestone Advisory Group
– Mary Nazzal – Executive Chairperson @ 17 Ventures
Moderator:
Day 2 – Saturday October 3, 2020
13:00 - 13:45 (GMT+3)
Panel
English/Arabic translation
Re-imagining our relation to land & nature: agriculture and the environment
In Palestine, decades of dispossession over our natural resources – especially land and water – have been accompanied by Palestinian official neoliberal policies that have encouraged exploitation, capital-driven agriculture, and use of natural resources. The Mediterranean is one of the most vulnerable regions for climate change, a vulnerability that is exacerbated by the climate apartheid we are living in.
We need to operate a radical shift in the way Palestinian approach our relationship with our ecosystems and resources and actively resist dispossession.
Panelists:
– Saad Dagher – Freelance Agronomist Agro-Ecologist
– Lina Isma’il – Co-founder of the Palestinian Agro-ecological forum
Moderator:
14:00 - 14:45 (GMT+3)
Panel
English/Arabic translation
Creating equity and overcoming capitalism: cooperatives and the social economy
The cooperative movement has existed in Palestine since the early 20th century. The movements have suffered the consequences of successive layers of administrative controls and changes: the British mandate, the Egyptian/Jordanian Rule, Israeli occupation, and the Palestinian Authority, progressively weakening cooperative societies. This decline was worsened by a donor-driven model that led to an aid-dependent economy.
In our global context where social and economic injustices are ever-growing, some regions and countries succeeded to place dignity and social value at the heart of work and wealth, through a different model of economic organizing: cooperatives.
Are cooperatives a good model for a steadfast Palestinian economy? What are Palestinians today thinking when we talk about “cooperatives”? Why are women cooperatives the most successful in Palestine? What are the challenges faced today to develop perennial and successful structures?
Panelists:
– Hiba AlJibeihi – Fundraising unit officer @ Union of Agricultural Work Committees
– Asmahan Ebrighit – Member of Women’s Association Palestine
– Randa AbedRabbo – Director of the Union of Cooperative Associations for Saving and Credit (UCASC)
Moderator:
– Christian Zaknoun – Founder @ Thinking Consulting Firm and Integral Advisory Associates
15:00 - 15:45 (GMT+3)
Panel
English/Arabic translation
Advocating on the playing field: sports as a tool for social change
This session will bring together Palestinian sports initiatives from across a range of Palestinian communities to discuss the power of sports as a tool for organizing on social and political issues, and as a tool for public diplomacy. The aim of the session will be to identify key points of alignment, share practical learnings, and start the process of building a unified and radical vision for the future of the sports sector.
Panelists:
– Nader Jayousi – Lawyer & Boxing Coach
– Diala Isid – Leader and Co-founder of Right to Movement Palestine
– Ahmad Matar- Co-founder and Parkour Lead @ WallRunners
Moderator:
– Malak Hasan – Journalist, Sports Enthusiast, and Project Manager @ Konrad Adenauer Stiftung
16:00 - 17:00 (GMT+3)
Panel
English/Arabic translation
Changing hearts and minds: the transformational power of literature
The written word has the power to change both hearts and minds. How does the transformative power of literature work? How has it been used to support Palestinian identity and rights and how might literature been used to try to negate it? What is the role of publishers, agents and publicists in this process and how have Palestinian writers been marginalized? How have Palestinian writers been able to break through despite these and other obstacles?
This panel features four Palestinian writers who will not only share personal stories that influenced their writing, but also reflect on the future of Palestinian literature.
Panelists:
– Saleem Haddad- Writer, Novelist
– Susan Abulhawa – Writer & Human Rights Activist
Moderator:
– Susan Muaddi Darraj – Fiction Writer and creator of #TweetYourThobe
17:00 - 17:45 (GMT+3)
Panel
English/Arabic translation
Job creation and workforce development
The international community has lauded startup development as a tool for job creation and economic growth – when and how does investment in the startup ecosystem lead to job creation and economic growth? Likewise, international and local investment in job preparedness via relevant and timely education is considered key to ensuring upward mobility and employment access.
What has succeeded? What is still lacking? In this panel, we will explore the science behind the strategies, learn about grassroots & international initiatives that have moved forward over the past 5 years, and what gaps still exist and methods we should employ to ensure growth and resiliency – particularly in this COVID19 moment.
Panelists:
– Eng. Aref Husseini– Chairman @ Jerusalem Innovation Park – AlNayzak Organization
– Nasser Al Amuri-Entrepreneurial Consultant
– Mona Demaidi – Dr , An-Najah National University
Moderator:
18:00 - 18:45 (GMT+3)
Panel
English/Arabic translation
Art as a form of resistance: the power of music and visual art
This panel will feature artists and musicians, who will share their personal stories as well as the relationship between their art and resistance. How is art used to facilitate difficult conversations? How is it used to both preserve and transcend cultures? What is the role of art in the Palestinian struggle today?
Panelists:
– Rami Younis – Co-founder @ Palestine Music Expo (PMX)
– Hafez Omar – Artist & human rights defender
Moderator:
19:00 - 19:45 (GMT+3)
Panel
English/Arabic translation
Mental health and COVID-19: challenges and opportunities
Alongside Covid-19, there is also a mental health pandemic. What evidence do we have and what conversations do we need to have to promote social mobilization and innovation in the realm of mental health? Who has started to push the frontier? What are their challenges? And what opportunities do the panelists see on the ground?
Panelists:
– Dr. Mohammad Herzallah- Founding Director @ Palestine Neuroscience Initiative
– Hala Sabbah – Founder & Coach @ Healthy Feminist
– Rajiah Abu Sway – Mental Health Officer @ World Health Organization
Moderator:
– Dr. Zeina Siam – Associate Program Officer @ Gates Foundation
20:00 - 20:45 (GMT+3)
Panel
English/Arabic translation
Beyond the imagination: reflection & action
Closing Plenary
Closing remarks – What’s next? How do we manifest imagination into reality? Sara Leila Husseini, Board Chair and Mays Kuhail, reflect on the summit and discuss next steps.
Performances by Dana Dajani and Shadi Zaqtan.
Workshop Schedule
Registration for workshops is limited to 20 participants and each participant can expect to participate in 1-2 workshops (depending on availability). Register now to make sure you secure your seat!
Day 1 – Friday October 2, 2020
17:00 - 18:00 (GMT+3)
Language: Arabic
The Creative Confidence
Facilitator: Mohammed Issa
Workshop Description
This workshop will identify the principles and strategies that will allow us to tap into our creative potential. Join this interactive workshop to learn new ways to introduce innovation when solving problems in your personal and professional life.
18:00 - 19:00 (GMT+3)
Language: English
Leveraging the power of co-creation and design thinking to spark innovation
Facilitator: Eve Aronson
Workshop Description
This workshop will trigger you to imagine new possibilities for innovation in Palestine. Join this workshop to learn how to co-create interactive games that will bring different minds and perspectives together around a central goal, using design thinking.
19:00 - 20:00 (GMT+3)
Language: ِArabic
The Power of Storytelling
Facilitator: Saed Karazoun
Workshop Description
This workshop will share proven techniques to tell powerful stories that will captivate and engage your adience. Join us to learn the key elements of an engaging story and The Golden Cycle: What, How, Why.
20:00 - 21:00 (GMT+3)
Language: English
Innovation Strategies for Green Businesses (cewas)
Facilitator: Aline Bussman
Workshop Description
This workshop tackles (radical) strategies to enhance environmental business models for market success and sustainable impact. Many environmental businesses are struggling to come up with a viable business model. They are either making too little revenues because their customers are not able/ willing to pay cost-covering prices or their costs are too high because services or products typically incur extensive expenses. However, there are various tested and successfully proven business model innovation strategies for tackling these two challenges and help to increase revenues or decrease costs.
Join this workshop to learn about the toolbox cewas has developed of proven innovation strategies in the environmental sector. A total of 20 innovation strategies are analysed and described in detail, which cewas and 35 green enterprises have developed and tested over the past years in the Middle East. All innovation strategies are based on real examples and have great potential in being replicated and applied in Palestine.
Day 2 – Saturday October 3, 2020
15:00 - 16:00 (GMT+3)
Language: Arabic
Disconnect to Reconnect (Meditation and Yoga session!)
Facilitator: Eilda Zaghmout
Workshop Description
We all went through a challenging time being in lockdown for so long as a global family. We experienced a lot of pressure, fear, stress and uncertainty in the past months due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In our workshop we will learn some tools to release stress and tension from the body using breathing techniques, mindful movement and guided imagery to reconnect to ourselves and find our inner calmness.
16:00 - 17:00 (GMT+3)
Language: Arabic
Untold Palestine- How to tell our untold stories?
Facilitator: Eyad Barghuthy
Workshop Description
How can we tell our untold stories to the world using the social media platform? Untold Palestine is a new initiative in 7amleh center, that is using digital storytelling tools: Short videos, Photos, and interesting captions. In the workshop, we will talk about these tools and the best practices in them.
17:00 - 18:00 (GMT+3)
Language: Arabic
What is the buzz about IMM (Impact Measurement and Management)?
Facilitator: Salam Al Khatib
Workshop Description
This workshop will introduce the concept of IMM (Impact Measurement and Management) and explain the value it will add to your organization or company. What is the relation between SDGs and IMM? Join this workshop to learn how you can introduce IMM in your organization and its many benefits.
18:00 - 19:00 (GMT+3)
Language: English
Design Thinking Workshop: Identify your talents to help Palestine
Facilitators: Farah Ereiqat, Amalee Nsour, Nourhan Shabaan
Workshop Description
Have you felt powerless when it comes to helping Palestine? We’ve all been there – it can feel like an impossible challenge to have an actual impact on Palestine and Palestinians while living your day to day life. What if we told you that no matter where you live or what you do, you can take lots of small and large actions to have an impact. This workshop will use the design thinking method to help you identify how you can identify strategies to use your unique talents and strengths to drive impact.
19:00 - 20:00 (GMT+3)
Virtual Tour
Virtual Tour of Palestine!
Facilitator: Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD)
Workshop Description
Join this virtual visit where you can hear from Palestinian community members and activists showing you some of the realities of Palestinian daily life under occupation.
Featured Speakers
(presented in random order)

Diala Isid
Lead Organizer @ Right to Movement

Yara Hawari
Senior Palestine Policy Fellow @ Al-Shabaka

Dana Dajani
Writer - Performer - Advocate

Rami Younis
Co-founder @ Palestine Music Expo (PMX)

Eng. Aref Husseini
Chairman @ Jerusalem Innovation Park - AlNayzak Organization

Susan Muaddi Darraj
Fiction Writer and Creator of #TweetYourThobe

Adnane Addioui
Cheif Visionary Officer @ Moroccan Center for Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship

Lana Abu Hijleh
Country Director @ Global Communities

Hafez Omar
Visual Artist & Human rights defender

Asmahan Ebrighit
Founder @ Rozana

Moukhtar Kocache
Strategy & Partnerships @ Rawa: Creative Palestinian Communities Fund;

Hala Sabbah
Founder & Coach @ Healthy Feminist

Alberto Masetti-Zannini
Global Development Director @ Impact Hub Network

Malak Mattar
Artist

Saleem Haddad
Writer, Novelist

Jennifer Atala
Board Member at BuildPalestine

Mariam Barghouti
Writer, Researcher, and Political Commentator

Nassim Nour
Executive Director @ Sharakat- Palestine Investment Fund

Samar Ali
Director @ Lodestone Advisory Group

Rifk Ebeid
Author & Attorney

Nader Jayousi
Lawyer & Boxing Coach and Founder of ElBarrio Gym

Ahmad Matar
Co-founder and Parkour Lead @ WallRunners

Dr. Mohammad Herzallah
Founding Director @ Palestine Neuroscience Initiative

Yara Salem
Director General @ Taawon (Welfare Association)

Eve Aronson
New Business & Project Management @ Butterfly Works

Mohammad Issa
CEO @ Ibtikar Palestine

Hashim Shawa
Chairman of Bank of Palestine Group

Saed Karazoun
CEO @ Taghyier

Eilda Zaghmout
Yoga & Meditation Teacher @ TAWAZON APP

Salam Al-Kahteeb
Lecturer and Consultant @ Social Value Arabia

Farah Ereiqat
Product Manager @ Hala Systems

Amalee Nsour
Innovation Strategist @ World Food Program

Nourhan Shabaan
Co-founder @ Cusp Impact

Dr. Sara Leila Husseini
Chair @ BuildPalestine

Rajiah Abu Sway
Mental Health Officer @ World Health Organization

Eyad Barghuthy
Trainer @ 7amleh – The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media

Yara Asad
Advisor @ BuildPalestine

Lama Amr
COO @ BuildPalestine

Aline Bussmann
Regional Director @ cewas Middle East

Inès Abdel Razek
Advocacy Director @ The Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy

Reem Abbas
Researcher @ Andariya

Nasser Al Amuri
Project Finance and Investment Officer@ F4J

Mary Nazzal
Executive Chairperson @ 17 Ventures

Nora Lester Murad
Writer, Activist and Educator

Aziza Mousa
Nonprofit Executive & BuildPalestine Board Member

Saad Dagher
Freelance Agronomist Agro-Ecologist

Mona Dmeaidi
Dr at An-Najah National University

Malak Hasan
Journalist and Program Manager @ Konrad Adenauer Stiftung

Susan AbuAlHawa
Writer, Novelist and Human Rights Activist

Jehad Abusalim
Policy and Education Associate @ the American Friends Service Committee

Dilar Dirik
Organizer @ Ceni Kurdish Women's Office for Peace

Lina Isma'il
Co-founder of the Palestinian Agro-ecological forum

Hiba AL-Jibeih
Fundraising unit officer @ Union of Agricultural Work Committees

Muna Dajani
PhD in Geography and Environment

Ahmad Nabil AbuZnaid
Executive Director of the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights

Christian Zaknoun
Founder @ Thinking Consulting Firm and Integral Advisory Associates

Randa Abedrabbo
Director of UCASC

Dr. Zeina Siam
Associate Program Officer @ Gates Foundation

Besan Abu Joudeh
Co-founder and CEO of BuildPalestine
We asked the participants of the 2020 Social Innovation Summit “How do you radically imagine the future of Palestine?”, and there were their answers:



























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